Whittaker Woman

It's Been A Decade

I had three hours with my family while I was in Cali, they love me so much that we all piled in the car and headed up to the mountains. Talk about speaking my love language. 

I wish I had my photo albums with me because I can't tell you how many pictures my brother and sister have taken like this. It has been about a decade since we have all been together, just us. No kids. It was fun. 

My dad grabbed in a cooler and went to the fridge. He just pulled things out. Luckily we were able to create something edible! 

We then pulled off the side of the road to get some branches for J's b-day. All in a day of the Barkume's!

H

What Did I Get Myself Into?

13 Days and I am back on the road. This time to another country, El Salvador! I can't believe the trip is almost here. In preparation of the trip we decided to sponsor another child with Compassion. Making this number three. Carlos and I have been sponsoring a sweet little girl from Dominican Republic for 5 years. When we were asked to go to Uganda we got an email asking if we wanted to sponser a child from Uganda, we chose not to. We had our Wilma. The trip came, it changed our lives, it was perfect. The day came to meet the other bloggers children. It was magical. It was beautiful. It was Compassion...and we missed it. We were able to experience it on the other side of the fence, but we did not get to experience the joy of meeting our sponsor child who counts on us and cherishes us with all that they are. We are their family and unfortunately we missed out on that blessing. As soon as we got home we went straight to the computer and ended up sponsoring a sweet little girl from one of the Projects we visited. So I am not going to miss this opportunity and we are adding to our family! 

This is where I got into trouble. I had a grand idea of sitting on the computer with the family all huddled around looking at pictures. Comparing birth dates, names and finding  HER, our newest Whittaker. But due to the fact that I need to sponsor someone who I could meet, Compassion sent me three  girls to choose from. Here is the problem, WE CAN'T CHOOSE! Sohaila wants one, I want another, Carlos is in tears on the phone because he wants to sponsor all three.  Seanna scooped up all the packets with a bear hug and said ALL of them! We-are-a-mess. So much for my bonding experience of choosing our newest Whittaker! So finally I just pulled one out of a bag, literally!  Meet Josseline,

HERE IS THE PROBLEM, I CAN'T SEND THE OTHER TWO BACK! Meet Maria... She has the coolest name ever! Seriously I wish I could put it all on here because it is so rad! Anyways here is sweet Maria.  Her little outfit is so cute! 

And finally Sthefany, I love the spelling! She was born Feb 19, 2001. Such a sweet thing! 

So my question is, do one of these girls belong to your family?  I really do not want to send these girls back into the system. I want them to start to get to know their new family and for them to know that someone is out there who loves and cares for them. Is that you. If so email me. Whittakerwoman@yahoo.com

H

It's An Animal!

  

So my Sis Teresa works at PetSmart in their animal hotel. I did not think I was going to be able to see her while I was home so we stopped in when she was working. 

My family are crazy animal people. I grew up with animals however I have no desire for them as of now. Pee, poop, flea's, their hair, all the cash it takes, the fact that I already live with three animals all keeps me away. However there is one thing that if you are close to me at all, you know I don't understand. It's this new idea that animals are as important as other humans. I don't need to go into details, but I had to post this... Do you see the "bone booth" up in the top picture. My sis says people call their animals while on vacation and talk to them. She says they talk baby talk, sing and even blow kisses. I don't get it. 

I guess the same people that call also put their dogs in this suite. It comes with climate control, a bed, blanket and best of all a tv that had Homeward Bound playing. Somethings just baffle me! 

I love you RE! H

RUTH!

I need to blog about my 5 days away, but I do not have pictures of Jacinda's party (the whole reason I went) so we will have to wait on that post. One of the most exciting parts besides seeing my Family, eating In & Out, and celebrating J's b-day is that I flew on a buddy pass. Now that is actually a loaded statement because the buddy pass failed me today in Colorado but it did allow me to make a overnight layover in Denver. My sis just moved here and she just had Miss Ruth two weeks ago. I was so happy that I was able to see her! Here are some pictures of my visit here. 

Ruth and I meeting or the first time. She looks a bit drunk! 

I jumped into Auntie roll and was reading books and playing tractors. 

Speaking of tractors I am ashamed to say I was schooled by my nephews on the subject. They did put me through a crash course so I could help Losiah. We will see how well I do. 

I learned a lot and I am not afraid to say my professors were still toddlers! 

We took a walk around the block. 

Talked on Skype with the cousins. 

Took the traditional Shelley smile picture. 

Ate a tasty meal, that I am still thinking about. 

And finally had some hot chocolate in front of the fire! It is cold, but I am not afraid of some cold feet, a cold nose and my teeth chattering. How could you enjoy hot chocolate if you were already warm? :)

I am so, so happy to have spent time with the FAM! Loved it. 

Hope you all had a great weekend. H

My Man's Blogging

Carlos is in charge of the kids this weekend. You know he will be entertaining! He has already done to fun videos. Check them out...

Give My Wife A Raise Part 1 

 These are the moments

It did not even cross my mind

To say, I have been busy is an understatement. Many of you would say we are always busy and we are. Its how we function, but then there are weeks when we are even busier and our normal busy. This week was one of those. 

 I am sitting in the Denver airport hoping that their will be room on the next plane headed to Fresno for this standby passenger. I sit here watching the snow dust the runway, wishing I was able to feel the cold in my lungs. Instead I am heading to Fresneck to celebrate Jacinda's 30th B-day. You may all remember her coming to visit me on mine. Now its my turn. Luckily it is not a surprise and I won't have to sit on her couch as her and her man get it on. :) Oh such good memories. 

Wow I am just rambling. I guess that's my point. Yesterday was CRAZY with a capital C! I did not think twice about bloggin for today. It did not even cross my mind. I never had to say, I can't now. I am going to have to wait till later, nothing. I woke up got on a plane and still no thought. It was not until I got here and saw free wi fi that I realized I have not blogged. 

And you know what. I like that. Love the no pressure of blogging. 

I am in heaven. Gonna see my Bff, mama and pa, have Dog House AND In N Out and best of all the only butt I have to wipe is mine! Glorious Day! 

Just a little rambling on this snowy morning in Denver! 

One of my favorite things... Doing nothing! Have a wonderful day! H

Thanks For The Blog Material Baby!

We all know, at least those who have been reading here for any length of time, you know that Georgia has a ton of bugs. Roaches are the worst. We have had some funny moments with them! 

I somehow become the man of the house when a roach is found. Tonight Carlos went in to get his nightly bowl of cereal, when I heard  him scream like a girl. Right in the middle of the kitchen floor was a little friend for Carlos. I told him I WAS NOT GOING TO KILL IT!  He was on his own. 

It was the best comedy I could of watched all night. My stomach still hurts! I wish I had my real camera handy, hope you will enjoy these! H

This is manly Carlos, tapping his shoes together. Not sure why or what he was trying to do, but he did if for a while. 

After all his tapping, the roach moved and this was his face. 

He then started to talk the thing. 

And finally he went and got he vacuum.  The roach moved behind the tennis ball and Carlos yelled, HE MOVED THE BALL. THE ROACH MOVED THE BALL! 

HAHAHAHAHA, it was such a great moment. Thanks for giving me blogging material baby! H

I'm Dreaming In Pink

It was perfect. Seanna's birthday party was amazing. I am actually shocked at how great it turned out considering it was about 10 hours before the party when I called Jacinda and asked her to help me think about it and plan it. That is how I roll sometimes. Last minute. But it works! Here are some pictures. 

 

It has been five years since we began the "invite your class" birthday parties. Usually 2-5 kids would show up, along with the life friends. Not this time. All the girls, but one from her class came to the party on top of our life friends. Lets just say it made for a lot of PINK! 

 

I decorated with lots and lots of pink and Seanna's yearly pictures. Oh she just makes me melt! 

 

When they got to the party we dressed them in their tutu's and sent them in to color ballerina pictures. Then carlos read a ballerina story to them. 

 

After, we had our very good friend Amber, who was PERFECT! Come out and teach the girls some moves! 

 

 

 

Then it was cake time...

 

 

 

 

I love being a mom. My soul is full! Happy Birthday Baby B. 

 

H

I Was There and Crying Like a BABY!

Last week the Whittaker Clan's life revolved around Catalyst.  It was great to see so many friends and be a part of such a great event. BUT there was one moment at the conference that  took the wind out of me. I did not know it was online, but apparently according to Melissa it has been circulating! I snagged it from the LPM blog and hope you will watch it. Its long, if you have time watch it all, if you need to skip head to minute 6:50. This is where a Compassion child, a man now, who meets his sponsor. 

 

Catalyst 2009 Compassion Moment from Catalyst on Vimeo.

I can not tell you how much I love and support Compassion. I had a friend over just yesterday that asked me if by sponsoring a child  REALLY is personal. This video tells it all. 

H

One of the Advantages of Having a Girl

 

And I did not even have to pay her! She came down with the most pitiful face and said, "I wish I had someone who would let me play with their hair" 

UMM, Hello! Sign me up! H

This Is Not A Coupon Blog

BUT this coupon is to good not to share. All you have to do is sign up for this club and you get free chonies! 

! If you have not joined  Victoria's Secret Pink Nation! I, would go do it right now! This month you can login and download a coupon for a free pink panty! No PURCHASE REQUIRED! I am not sure how long this deal will last but go check it out. H  

Stealing Carlos' Blog Post

Everything Is Right In The World

[photo credit goes to the paparazzi that is my wife.]

Every night around 4 am…
Oh wait. That’s morning…
She makes her way out of the top bunk…
Down the ladder…
Over Polly Pockets, Disney Princesses, and 43,810 crayons…
Across the hall…
Over my mound of clothes I have dropped at the door of our bedroom…
Around my laptop leaning against the bed frame…
Into our bed…
Under my cover…
Butt into my gut…
Cheek next to mine…
Arm around my face…
And into my soul.

And it’s not until I feel her breath interfering with my own that I realize she is there.
And it’s at that moment…
At 4 am…

That everything is right in the world.
Los

Uganda

Yesterday, the adoption agency we used for Losiah had a family picnic. 

This is what I walked away with. A globe and a newsletter that stated this... " Holt needs adoptive parents for children in Uganda" 

Guess what. Thats us. It's the first time that I was ready to start the paperwork again. To bring some siblings home from across the globe to join this crazy Whittaker Team. Ahh, but it's not time. Soon, but not yet. H

She Will Get Extra Allowance This Week

When we are out at night and a sitter has to put the girls to sleep we allow them to fall asleep in our bed. This what I walked into when we got home one day this past week.

You may see sleeping siblings tangled together. Maybe you see Sohaila and the fact that her eyse are  open. What I see, is a picture next to the bed that belongs on a bookcase not my night stand. Sohaila put the picture of us right next to her. Makes my heart smile. H

It Never Ends

Well, I guess I should have known it was a possibility

Remember this very sad mom day,

  It has lead to this

"Mama my nail, my nail all gone" - Little Los

Out

Our lives have been crazy. So we are gonna unplug for the weekend. Hope you all have a great weekend. H

No I Didn't

Losiah fell asleep while eating lunch. When he woke up I told him and all he could say with a giggle... 
" No I didn't. No I didn't!" 

So sweet. H

It's Alive

Since the girls were cleaning my house I had some free time and decided to make hamburger buns for dinner. Once I had drug out the flour grinder and mixer I decided not to waste my efforts and made a double batch.  I mixed it all up and left the kitchen so it could rise. I came back to this, 

Oops! I think I needed a bigger bowl! It could be worse, I could have come back and nothing had happened. At least I know I did it right! 

Look how cute B is making the hamburgers! 

Such a helper! Always hands on! I love it. H

Chores

The girls have been begging me to make a chore list. And yes I am documenting it right now.     THEY ASKED FOR IT! So I made one today. Some things are daily and for minimal fee's. Like clean the kitchen sink for .10cents. Others were weekly and bigger bucks, vacuuming or dusting were the big dogs at $2 each. Guess which things got done today. 

I don't know why I did not think of this earlier. My house looks great! Carlos has no idea the gold-mine I found today with our live in maids! We did have the talk "Some things we do in this house because you live here" talk. But I think it is such a great thing to help them understand money before they are off to college and running up credit cards. Do you give your kids chores? As a kid did you have chores. I want some good idea's on keeping this fun or rewarding for them! H 

Family Night... Bug Night

Butterflies, beetles, slugs and worms! Nets, canisters, and everything that squirms!

We made necklaces and went out to find bugs to put in them. Losiah had a spider in his and he kept saying "Come on little buddy" "i wub you buddy". 

Sohaila found a slug, but she would not wear the necklace. So I wore it. 

Our table was simple... a log that was from our backyard and kept us entertained all night. Ants, slugs and worms kept coming out all night. Seanna even yelled " There's a real bug on my plate!" 

We had maggots and worms for dinner and a little caterpillar. 

We also made snails. Tasty! 

Seanna said " Mommy this snail went into its shelter, heheh I ate his head" 

I made this dirt dessert. 

Over all it was a fun, easy night! Love getting back into family nights! H

Took The Next Kid Out

Well I figured since I tore up Losiah last week, I would take another kid down this week. Let me set this story up. Sohaila and I were out on a date visiting some Garage Sales. One community was having a sale so we parked the car and walked from house to house. We came to a spot were there was nothig until the house at the end of the street. I asked Sohaila if she wanted to race and she took off giggling. She gives me a run for my money!  It was all fun and games until the sidewalk jumped out and grabbed her by her face! 

This was taken a day later so it is not as red. Luckily the house at the end of the street had a very compassionate father there who brought out ice, Band-Aids and some lemonade. So that was moment number one. 

Now I think that is pretty tragic for one weekend. There was no need for more, but there was!

We have some friends in town and before we took them to our local pond. The kids got out of the car and sprinted down the trail. As I was screaming "SOMEONE IS GOING TO'" Well you can see who and what happened. Yep again, and this time some blood. 

Her elbows got it good and her knee too. But you get the idea. She got worked over this weekend. Poor girl, I asked her if I can blog this she said yes. So will you give her some love, maybe a story of your two left feet? I hope your weekend was not so rocky our Sohaila's! H

Edwardo

One advantage to living in Atlanta is the amount of visitors we have. Every month since we have moved here (which has been 2 years now. Can you believe it 2 YEARS! Wow!), but every month we have had someone from Cali here visiting us! Talk about an answered prayer. It is and has been fantastic. Even in the past 45 days 31 of those days we have had family here! And tonight was no exception. Carlos' Brother Eddie came for dinner! 

He also taught the girls how to play soccer. 

Seanna took the goalie position to heart! 

I think she is an olympic hopeful! 

I love watching my kids get out and play! Such a mom moment! I was never a organized sports person, I was always hiking mountains, snowboarding or water skiing, so I am loving watching them do team sports. Did you play sports? H

 

Birthday, Birthday, Birthday

I was so inspired to do this party for Sohaila's Birthday back in April,

but we we ended up doing Disneyworld instead. The Candy Party was endless with fantastic idea's and I was excited to throw the party. Time passed and well to be honest everyone started to do candy parties, which made me not want to do it. I still was planning it until last minute I found these darling things... 

These are cake toppers for a bridal shower. Cute huh! She also make a tutu for her daughter's b-day.

These are just way to cute. Made me gasp out loud, I tell you!  I then decided that the idea of girls coming home with a little standing dress invite was just just to much fun! So I mixed them both together to create mine! 

The torso is long because I put the actual invite on the back. 

So Ms Bean is having a Ballerina Party. Oh I almost forgot how this all came to be... The girls want to both be Ballerina's for Halloween. So we are running with it. 

What's your  favorite party theme you've done? H

Thats One Way To Do It

I can't bust the child who did this. They did what I said. 

"Put your backpack away, unload your lunch box, and put the containers in the dishwasher." 

And that is what they did! 

I guess I need to be more detailed. Do you see what they did? 

And that's not the worst of it! 

It was still full of the food! Ay yi yi! What's a mom to do. H